May 2nd, 2017

David Reasoner of Ridgewood made an uphill 20-foot putt on the 18th hole to win his match 1-up against Jim Famula of Royce Brook to advance to the semifinals of the Greg Norman Match Play Championship.

Reasoner, who was 3-down through nine holes, evened the match heading to the 17th. This is the first time Reasoner has reached the semifinals of the Match Play Championship.

Defending Champion Dan Kinn of Acushnet Company bowed out in the quarterfinals to Spring Lake’s Matt McKeon, 5 and 4.

The first semifinalist to advance today was Forsgate’s Frank Esposito, who defeated Jim McGovern of White Beeches, 5 and 4. McGovern knocked off Alex Beach, winner of the last two majors, in the round of 16 in 19 holes.

Esposito will play Pat Fillian of Echo Lake, who defeated Arcola’s Grant Sturgeon, 8 and 6. Fillian birdied his first five holes and was 7-under through 12 holes during his match.

“Grant’s one of the better players probably in the country so I knew I had to play well going in,” Fillian said. “The wind made it hard but I had a lot of good shots out there.”

Fillian said that he and Esposito have never been paired at a tournament during their careers.

“Frank’s obviously one of the legends out here,” Fillian said. “If I play like I did today, I’ll be happy tomorrow.”